The Australian Desert Lime is small with an intense, piquant flavour. An extremely versatile fruit they can be used in any product or process where ‘normal’ limes or lemons are used, the main difference being their small size, lack of peel and more intense flavour.
Desert limes require no peeling or preparation. They have the valuable attribute of freezing down without losing flavour or presentation characteristics when thawed later for use.The fruit has been analysed as a very healthy food source, having three times the amount of Vitamin C compared to oranges. They were eaten by aborigines and have been used by generations of Australian outback people to make cordials, sauces, garnishes marmalades, pickles and chutneys. Thirsty stockmen eat the fruit straight from the trees while mustering as a thirst quencher.
Desert Lime trees exhibit many desert adaptation characteristics. They are the quickest citrus tree species in the world to set fruit after flowering. They protect themselves against grazing animals by sharp thorns, however, after growing above browse height of large kangaroos the trees grow no more thorns.